Baptists Come in 32,235 Flavors-- Part 3, BGC

Thursday October 22, 2009 ~ 7 Comments

Yes, there are a lot of different kinds of Baptists. Not really 32,235, but a bunch.

So, using my week as a guide, I have been talking about three groups. First, I spoke to two Southern Baptist state conventions. Second, I "almost" spoke to a fine group of Independent Baptists. And, finally, I just returned from a meeting the Baptist General Conference (BGC) in Indianapolis.

The folks in Indianapolis had such an amazing screen for data presentation, I had to share it with you:

Why can't I get that screen whenever I am on the road?

Anyway, as I mentioned, I spoke earlier today in Indianapolis at the biennial meeting of Converge MidAmerica. They asked me to speak three times on three subjects: church planting, church revitalization, and then on reaching the younger unchurched from my new co-authored book, Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and Churches that Reach Them.

So, who are these folks?

Well, first, they are not really the Baptist General Conference. But, it lined up so well: SBC, IFB, BGC. The denomination changed its name recently to Converge Worldwide-- dropping "Baptist," "General," and "Conference" from their official name. Wow. And, this is not the first time they changed their name. The denomination was originally the Swedish Baptists.

Here is some history from Wikipedia:

The Baptist General Conference (BGC) is a national evangelical Baptist body with roots in Pietism in Sweden and inroads among evangelical Scandinavian-Americans, particularly in the American Upper Midwest. From its beginning among Scandinavian immigrants, the BGC has grown to a nationwide association of autonomous churches with at least 17 ethnic groups and missions in 19 nations. The current president of the BGC is Dr. Jerry Sheveland. In 2008 the Baptist General Conference adopted the new movement name of Converge Worldwide.

So, they are no longer the BGC, but many people still make that mistake (like I did, on purpose, just so it would fit with the others!).

But, they have been making other changes, recently reorganizing the denomination, moving the national headquarters to Orlando, and retooling the way their foreign / home boards relate. (I was privileged to work with them on that move to "one mission" as a consultant to their leadership.)

But, what I find uniquely interesting is that Converge Worldwide was originally a regional Swedish denomination that has remade itself though a strong focus on church planting and missions. Here's some more history from Wikipedia:

The Baptist General Conference grew out of the great revival of the 19th century, but its roots can be traced back to Swedish Pietism. In 1852, Gustaf Palmquist emigrated from Sweden to the United States. Forty-seven days after his arrival, he and three others organized a Swedish Baptist church in Rock Island, Illinois. Frederick Nilsson, who was instrumental in leading Palmquist to Baptist views, arrived in America the next year with 21 immigrants. Some of these united with the Rock Island church, while others organized a church at Houston, Minnesota. Nilsson traveled widely, founding and strengthening churches. Anders Wiberg was another pioneer among these churches from 1852 until 1855, when he returned to Sweden as a missionary.

Christian experience was a major emphasis among these Swedish Baptists, and they prospered from the awakenings in the 19th century. Immigration, aggressive evangelism and conversion through revivals brought rapid growth to the denomination. John Alexis Edgren founded the Swedish Baptist Seminary in Chicago, Illinois in 1871.

In 1879, when the Swedish churches had grown to 65 in number, they formed a General Conference. The members of these churches assimilated into American society and gradually lost their separate ethnic identity. By 1940, most churches were English-speaking. In 1945, the Swedish Baptist General Conference dropped "Swedish" from its name and became the Baptist General Conference of America. Swedish Baptists had maintained an alliance with the American Baptist Publication Society, American Baptist home and foreign missions, etc., and later the Northern Baptist Convention. Some Swedish Baptists expected to merge with that body, but the groups moved toward different developments of theological emphasis. The conservative Swedish Baptists pulled back from growing liberalism of the Northern Baptists, and in 1944 formed their own Board of Foreign Missions. This moved them toward independent existence, which they have maintained to the present.

I have written before that I believe that Converge Worldwide is the leading mid-size church planting denomination in America today. Just a few months ago, I was in California training their church planters. Today, it seemed like most of the attendees at the meeting had planted the churches they pastored. They ooze church planting-- and it has changed their denomination for the better.

In denominational life, as in so many areas of life, what you celebrate, you become. Meetings in some denominations are "celebrating" everything BUT church planting. But, by celebrating church planting, the folks at Converge Worldwide have created a momentum that has transformed their movement.

Posted on October 22, 2009 at 8:49 PM ~ 7 Comments

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7 Comments

By Chris Meirose on October 22, 2009 11:01 PM

BGC/Converge are my favorite brand of Baptists, hands down. Here in Minnesota we have an incredible wealth of church planting genius within Converge. I don't currently pastor a Converge church, but I hope to someday return to Converge if God leads me elsewhere.

By Gary Humble on October 23, 2009 9:29 AM

I recently connected with a Converge church in Monroe, WA. These guys breathed church planting. It's refreshing to see this movement still alive and well in the church worldwide today.

By DC on October 23, 2009 12:28 PM

Since you helped Converge merge their 2 mission boards, what's your current thinking on a NAMB/IMB merger?

By Ed Stetzer

on October 23, 2009 12:33 PM

DC,

I think that I don't want to make national SBC news in the comment section of my blog. ;-)

By Amos Allen on October 24, 2009 8:17 AM

The folks at Converge have been instrumental in helping the "stream I paddle in" get church planting somewhat back in our collective consciousness. Good people doing good things with our Father.

By Jim Hays on October 26, 2009 2:55 PM

I'm one of those Converge church planting pastors in Converge Northwest. We planted Life Pointe Church in Lacey, WA, one year ago. I love being part of this network of missional leaders!

By Mark Kraakevik on October 26, 2009 6:55 PM

Ed,

Thanks for the good words. I follow you on twitter, and I have learned a lot as you travel around the country speaking to different groups.

Most of what you have said is true (although technically we did NOT change the name - at least that is what the minutes from the last annual meeting at Bethel University will say).

It is VERY true that church planting is a BIG deal. I am a church planter in Littleton, CO. In fact, your book on church planting is one of the resources we used in getting started.

Have a great day,

Mark Kraakevik